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Name: Stephen Smith Age: 22 College / University: The University of Texas at Austin Major: Architectural Engineering Country origin: United States What did you do in high school to prepare you for this major? Tell us about your extracurricular activities and any honors/awards you received while preparing for university. High school for me was spent focusing on two things—math classes and marching band. I was fortunate enough to be placed in an accelerated math program, which led to me taking differential equations and linear algebra in my senior year. My teachers were exceptional and laid a strong foundation for how I understood the material moving forward. In the marching band, I eventually became a captain of the drumline. While not directly related to the STEM field I'm in, I believe having some form of creative outlet is crucial for maintaining strong problem-solving skills. Really, that's what engineering is at its heart—the study of problem-solving. Training yourself to think in other disciplines helps you gain perspective, which is critical later in life. Additionally, it taught me how to work in a team, another important skill for an engineer. In the construction industry, you will never work alone after leaving school. As a result, learning how to integrate into a team was very helpful. Please tell us your daily life schedule as a student with this major in your university. It varies quite a bit. On some days, I'm here until quite late, working on one of several design projects—either for class or competition—and on others, I'm done by 11 a.m. Generally, the workload is very manageable. It’s nice that most of the work I have now is project-based, which allows for more self-paced or group-paced deadlines. Compared to other majors, I would consider myself to have fewer labs. I usually have 3–4 lecture classes and 0–1 design studio(s) per semester. When I'm not in class, I'm usually found working either in our org ( Architectural Engineering Institute ) office or running around doing errands for the org. I'm very involved with my department by choice and have been fortunate enough to receive invites to guest lectures and banquets with industry professionals and academics. In the evening, I usually return home to cook dinner for myself and pursue other hobbies. Currently, I'm learning to play bass guitar and build foot pedals to augment the sound. The work-life balance in architectural engineering is quite good—something I'm grateful for. How do you manage your stress? What's the secret? Being a college student is about two things: learning as much as you can about the world and as much as you can about yourself. The first is pretty self-explanatory, but the second has a bit more nuance. I used to be very concerned about appearing dumb or screwing up in front of my peers. Learning about yourself requires taking risks and accepting rejection or failure as part of the process. Over time, I've come to realize that this is the lowest-stakes part of adulthood. I don't have a long-term commitment to any single place, person, or organization. If I make a mistake or screw up royally, there is no longstanding consequence (for the most part, at least). Coming to terms with this has led me to be much more laid-back in my approach to things and accept that what happens, happens. Of course, this shouldn't be conflated with apathy. I do care about the outcome of what I put effort into, and I still feel that my work is a reflection of my ability. However, if my best is not enough or misses the mark, I can take it as a learning opportunity instead of wallowing in failure. Taking things in stride and rolling with the punches is a great skill to develop in college and has greatly helped mitigate my stress. What advice would you give high school students wanting to study this major? It's really a lot of fun. A big part of getting good at ArchE is developing your intuition—honing that gut feeling for where you should start investigating a project. The calculation component of our work isn't the most intense, but it does require a strong foundation in calculus. This is a truly practical form of engineering. It's not the most glorified, and it isn't the most prestigious, but at the end of the day, when you go home, you can point to specific instances where you made people's lives better. The feeling of gratification is worth it. What was the most helpful when applying to college for this major? I had a lot of people read my entrance essay. It told a story about how I was able to adapt to new situations while maintaining my identity. Don't overlook that component, especially as an out-of-state student. Additionally, I tested well on the ACT. Sit for it a few times, work on the practice exams, and take a deep breath. It's possible to get in with the effort you put in. If there is an app/website/social media account that you love or follow related to your major, could you share the link? Structure Magazine  – Articles about new structures being built around the world. Modern Steel Construction  – The steel magazine from AISC, the American Institute of Steel Construction. These are the two I generally try to keep up with. Additionally, ArchDaily  is great for staying updated on interesting buildings in general, though it focuses more on architecture than the structural engineering I care about. Interested in learning more? Stephen Smith is happy to answer your questions at 📩 stephen.smith [at] utexas [dot] edu Thank you to Stephen Smith! You can also follow us on Instagram Instagram: @askstem

Name: Daniel Lam Age: 19 College / University: The University of Texas at Austin Major: Computer Science Country origin: United States What did you do in high school to prepare you for this major? Tell us about your extracurricular activities and any honors/awards you received while preparing for university. I didn't spend much time on extracurriculars during high school, as I had family troubles from grades 9 to 10. What made me stand out was the fact that I tried as hard as I could during my senior year. I was a part of my computer science club, joined my high school hackathon, and got the rare opportunity to intern for Lockheed Martin in the Fort Worth location in Texas during my time in high school. Despite not having the ideal extracurriculars, I worked harder than most to show that I was willing to put in the work for computer science with the hurdles that life had thrown at me. Please tell us your daily life schedule as a student with this major in your university. I wake up at 9 AM and work all day, ending around 1 AM. As many know, computer science is not an easy major, with the rigorous grind of schoolwork and the constant competition in the job market. I'm constantly working both during and outside of my classes. Keeping up with SBI, my schoolwork, and personal coding projects can be challenging. Despite that, I always make time for myself every day. I'm never in my dorm and always out doing something. I enjoy spending time with friends, studying with my classmates, and, most importantly, struggling together to build a better sense of community. How do you manage your stress? What's the secret? Always set aside time for yourself; constantly grinding through schoolwork can build up stress over time. This will not only make you feel more overwhelmed but can also affect your grades and personal drive. I enjoy treating myself as often as I can to stay balanced. This could be getting a sweet treat with a friend, watching my favorite shows after a long study session, or even sleeping in a little to catch up on rest after a late-night study session for a big exam. What advice would you give high school students wanting to study this major? What I regret the most in high school was not spending my time wisely. Once you get into college, you don’t realize how much free time you had during high school. I’m not saying you should always be on the grind, but don’t spend your whole day playing games. Even for an hour, take the time to explore what truly interests you in computer science and discover what drives you to work hard. Maybe you want to create games, build the biggest AI company, or program robots that can take over the world. Whatever it is, once you find that motivation, you won’t forget it after high school. It will stay with you—especially on those late nights when you’re stressed about an exam that makes up 90% of your grade. This drive will be the key difference between those who make an impact and those who struggle the most. What was the most helpful when applying to college for this major? What was most helpful was showcasing the exact reason why you want to pursue Computer Science. This could be writing your essay about your drive to change the world, how programming may have been your escape from reality, or simply the joy of creating something out of nothing. Whatever it is, colleges would much rather choose someone genuinely interested in learning and who dives deep into computer science, rather than someone who just wants to do it for the money. For extracurriculars, I’d recommend joining any robotics or CS club, seeking research opportunities at your local college, and building projects to put on your college resume. If there is an app/website/social media account that you love or follow related to your major, could you share the link? https://www.instagram.com/baxate_carter/ Thank you to Daniel Lam! You can also follow us on Instagram Instagram: @askstem